MORE THAN ONE OF AUBREY ATTWATER's FRIENDS regretted that he did not write a book; they consoled themselves, however, with the knowledge that he was with ever-growing enthusiasm preparing the material for what would have been a scholarly, humane and definitive history of the College that he most lovingly served. For several years before his death Aubrey had spent the greater part of his leisure in the study of College documents, and the more he studied them, the more deeply was he fascinated by them. From time to time he would display the first fruits of his labours in the form of a paper read to The Martlets on the Foundress or on Richard Crossinge, or on Gabriel Harvey, or on the history of the older College rooms. Such papers were, in fact, early drafts of chapters to be included in the History and provided clear evidence of the generous and scholarly scale on which the work was being planned. Or, again, he would contribute an essay on Pitt or on the College Plate or on the Servants or on the Buildings to the Annual Gazette of the College Society. Everyone who heard, or read, one of these papers rejoiced that the formidable task of writing a history of Pembroke was being faced in so gay a spirit.